Understanding Comedy
Handout Covers
- What is comedy?
- Conventions of comedy
- Shakespearean comedy
- Benefits of reading comedy
- Using comedy to critique society
What is Comedy?
Comedy is a form of entertainment that is designed to make people laugh. It can take many
different forms, such as stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, improv comedy, and more. Comedy
is often used to make light of a situation and to help people see the world in a different way. It
can also be used to make social and political commentary, to explore issues of race and gender,
and to express ideas in a humorous way.
There are several conventions that are often used in comedy, such as irony, satire, and parody.
Irony is the use of words to express the opposite of what is meant. Satire is the use of humor to
critique society and its values. And parody is the use of an existing work to create a humorous
version of it.
In summary, comedy is a form of entertainment that uses humor to make light of a situation
and to express ideas in a humorous way. It often uses conventions such as irony, satire, and
parody.
Conventions of Comedy
As mentioned before, comedy often uses conventions such as irony, satire, and parody. Irony
is the use of words to express the opposite of what is meant. For example, a common use of
irony in comedy is sarcasm, which is when someone deliberately says the opposite of what
they actually mean.
Satire is the use of humor to critique society and its values. It is often used to point out the flaws
and problems in society in a humorous way.
Parody is the use of an existing work to create a humorous version of it. It is often used to poke
fun at famous works or to highlight the absurdity of a situation.
In summary, irony, satire, and parody are all conventions of comedy that are used to express
ideas in a humorous way.
Understanding Comedy
Shakespearean Comedy
Shakespearean comedy is a form of comedy that was popularized by the playwright William
Shakespeare. It is characterized by a light-hearted plot, witty dialogue, and physical humor. It
often uses conventions such as irony and satire to explore themes of love, family, and society.
Shakespearean comedy often ends with a ‘happy ending’ that resolves any conflicts and
restores order to the world. It often features a romantic subplot and may include characters
such as fools, clowns, and other comic types.
In summary, Shakespearean comedy is a form of comedy that uses conventions such as irony
and satire to explore themes of love, family, and society.
BeneRts of qeading Comedy
Reading comedy can be a great way to relax and release stress. It is also a great way to
gain insight into different societies and cultures. Reading comedy can help you learn about
language, including how sarcasm and irony can be used to express ideas. It can also help you
think critically about issues such as politics, gender, race, and more.
Reading comedy can help you develop empathy and understanding. It can help you see things
from different perspectives, and it can help you understand and appreciate different cultures.
In summary, reading comedy can be a great way to relax and gain insight into different societies
and cultures. It can also help you develop empathy and understanding, and it can help you think
critically about important issues.
Understanding Comedy
Using Comedy to Criticue Soliety
Comedy can be used as a powerful tool to critique society and its values. It can be used to
point out the flaws and injustices in society in a humorous way. It can also be used to promote
empathy and understanding by showing different perspectives on a given issue.
Comedians often use their comedy to make political and social commentary. They use their
humor to explore issues of race, gender, and more. They can also use their comedy to call
attention to issues such as poverty, inequality, and injustice.
In summary, comedy can be used as a powerful tool to critique society and its values. It can
be used to call attention to important issues, to explore different perspectives, and to promote
empathy and understanding.
Conl usion
In conclusion, comedy is a powerful form of entertainment that can be used to make light of
a situation and to express ideas in a humorous way. It often uses conventions such as irony,
satire, and parody. Shakespearean comedy is a form of comedy that was popularized by William
Shakespeare, and it often uses conventions such as irony and satire to explore themes of love,
family, and society.
Reading comedy can be a great way to relax and gain insight into different societies and
cultures. It can also help you develop empathy and understanding, and it can help you think
critically about important issues.
Finally, comedy can be used as a powerful tool to critique society and its values. It can be used
to call attention to important issues, to explore different perspectives, and to promote empathy
and understanding.